Tedhi Medhi Crazy|Jan. 15, 2021|India|95 Min.|PG
Genre: Bollywood;Drama;Family
Description: How often do we see stories about women on screen, especially those told by women? It’s rare. Even rarer is when such stories are told effectively. In *Tribhanga: Tedhi Medhi Crazy*, writer-director Renuka Shahane, a well-known actor, attempts to craft an emotional drama centered on three generations of women. While the plot seems promising, the execution falls short of expectations. Even the lead actors struggle to bring the story to life.
The film is essentially a family drama, focusing on three women—their struggles, aspirations, and relationships. Tanvi Azmi plays Nayantara, an acclaimed writer and mother of Anuradha, portrayed by Kajol. Anuradha, a Bollywood actor-dancer, shares her mother’s complexity and fierceness and is also a single mother. Mithila Palkar, who plays Masha (Anuradha’s daughter), stands apart from her family. As a housewife, she strives for the “normal” life she feels she’s been denied.
The movie tackles multiple themes, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and professional ambitions, to explain the strained dynamics between the main characters. However, the weight of these sensitive topics ends up diluting the otherwise genuine narrative.
While Tanvi Azmi shines with her compelling performance and Mithila Palkar makes a pleasant impression despite limited screen time, Kunal Roy Kapur feels out of place, and Kajol’s acting often comes across as forced. Early in the film, Kapur’s character describes Anuradha as “rude and stony-hearted,” but he omits that she’s also somewhat irritating. Within 15 minutes, it becomes evident that Kajol’s portrayal lacks subtlety, as her exaggerated emotions make it hard to connect with her character.
Overall, *Tribhanga* is an ambitious attempt that doesn’t quite hit the mark, despite its sincere intentions and strong performances from some of its cast.
Cast director: Renuka Shahane
Cast actor: Kajol, Tanvi Azmi, Mithila Palkar, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Vaibhav Tatwawaadi, Manav Gohil, Kanwaljeet Singh, Shweta Mehendale
Original name: त्रिभंग